23
After our brief tour of the home, I could see why Apollo liked it here. There was an aura of peace that rests through the grounds. The world could be burning down outside this estate, and we’d be comfortable here.
Prepping for dinner, Apollo stirs the pot.
Tipping myself up onto my toes, I peek at the boiling water. I ask, “What’re you making?”
“Homemade gnocchi with a side salad.” Kneading the dough, Apollo artfully cuts and shapes the noodles before setting them in the pot.
“Sounds lovely.” I watch him preparing the dough.
Watching a god cook is a novel sight. It”s downright surprising to me. I assumed he’d use magic to finish the food.
But no. He is taking his time, going through each of the finicky steps.
Sighing, I sit at the kitchen table. Fit for about twenty people. The long benches to the sides were utilitarian but worked. Instead of the benches, I opted for one of the two end chairs with a back. Fidgeting for a bit, I felt restless, “Can I help with anything?”
“Sure. Can you cut up the tomatoes?” Pulling a cutting board and knife from the drawer, he sets them on the island for me.
I nod. Getting up, I wash my hands and then start on the tomatoes. I rise, scrub, and clean each one before cutting it up, “How would you like them chopped?”
“Here, chop them like this,” Apollo instructs he as steps behind me. Guiding my hands.
Pressing his front flush with my back, I feel my body melt against him.
His warmth makes my body ache.
His woodsy amber smell. I memorize the feeling of him pressed against me.
How his thumb traces my hand. Softly carving light patterns into my skin. Leaning down to my shoulder, Apollo hunches his back looking down at the tomatoes.
Pulling me over to the sink, with a handful of tomatoes, he starts running the water.
That’s a fancy faucet, I remark. Tall curved dark metal propels the water from the pipes to fill the basin.
Phantomlike, Apollo turns to me. His lips brushed against my ear causing another shiver to run down my back. My stomach somersaults inside of me. Huskily, he whispers, “Just take hold of it gently. Giving each one the proper care it deserves.
Gods. Please don’t be talking about tomatoes right now.
My cheeks flush from sheer excitement.
Following his lead, I scrub the already clean tomato. Slowly swirling the water along the smooth skin of the fruit. “Good work.” He kisses my neck. I swear it feels like I”m on another plane of existence. “Now for the rest of the sauce.” Pulling me back to the island, I picked up the knife and Apollo placed his hand on mine. Guiding me slowly through the steps of preparing the sauce.
“These look perfect,” Apollo praises. “Now return to your seat while I finish this last part. Pushing back against him, I feel him. Firm, Stiff, and I have no idea what to do about it. So, I sat down. Listening to his instructions. Apollo turns and finishes the sauce. With a snap of his fingers, the table is prepared for us. Each end is some distance from the other but gorgeous.
Sitting, Apollo scootches his chair to the table and smiles mischievously at me.
Apollo raises his glass to me, and I pick up mine in turn. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings,” I repeat to him as I raise my glass before taking a sip of my ambrosia.
Peeking down the table, I peer around the tall centerpiece. The separation was ridiculous for two people.
Tentatively, I ask, “Join me on this side of the table?” My request feels breathy.
What’s gotten into me?
Releasing a breath he was holding, Apollo takes a sharp intake of breath. Flourishing his fingers, his food plops down to the chair directly beside me. His chair scraps across the floor before gliding across the room like he is walking on air. He grins broadly at me. “Anything for my lady love.”
I blush at his new nickname for me. My cheeks and core are warm.
Raising my goblet to him, I wait for him expectantly. “A toast to new beginnings.”
Apollo nods as he clinks out goblets together, his eyes darken by the moment.
Eyes full of longing.
Full of desire.
His look sends shudders down my spine.
“Much better,” I whisper.
Together, we sat at our table. Chattering as we ate our meal.
During our meal, servants dropped off our luggage in the front room before leaving once more. After dinner, Apollo carries our bags up the grand staircase to our rooms.
Opening the door to the north room, which is directly by Apollo’s room, I take it in.
These rooms were far different from the palace. The warm wood tones, soft linens, and plan fixtures said it all. The absence of gold and marble was a relief.
This place was warmer. More cozy.
Leaning over, Apollo sets the hearth ablaze with his magic.
“Thank you.” I smile as I throw myself down onto the bed. Taking in the dark room. The chittering birds outside seemed to tell whole stories.
Stretching out on my bed. I wait for Apollo to speak.
But no words came.
“This place is wonderful,” I whisper as I look toward him.
His eyes are dark and heavy. Scanning me up and down.
Suddenly, I realize how this looks.
Me laying down on a bed in front of a god.
Gaia help me.
I should stand up, but I don’t. I crave him.
Wanting him to close the distance between us.
But he stands still.
Frozen in place.
“Apollo?” Raising my eyebrow, I ask, “Are you okay?”
Swallowing hard, he shifts, placing his hands in front of the midsection. “Fine,” he croaks.
Cocking my head to the side, I watch the god. One who always seemed so cocky and sure of himself, now seemed so frightened and unsure.
“You seem tired,” I whisper with a mischievous grin. “Want to lay down with me?” Looking at him with wide eyes, I wait for the response.
Half of me expects that he”ll politely decline.
But I hope that he agrees.
Apollo moves slowly toward me.
Stepping close, I feel the bed drop from his weight. The springs creak as I feel his warmth radiating next to me.
My pounding heart skips at the feel of him. Our bodies pressed right together.
“Thank you for coming here with me,” he whispers.
“Thank you for inviting me.” Leaning upward, I look up at my host whose golden eyes are locked on me. “Is Artemis and Uncle Ov coming to the lodge?” From what I could decipher, we’re the only two people who are currently here.
“No.” Apollo says simply. “They offered to hold down the fort for us.”
So, we’re here.
All alone.
Just the two of us.
“What do you’ve planned for our next couple of days alone together?” I ask as I shift upward, resting my head on his outstretched arm. Rolling on my side, I wait for him to respond.
He gulps. His Adam’s Apple bobs as he replies, “Up to you. Whatever you’d like to do.”
“Hmm… Whatever I’d like?” I clarified.
He nods. Holding back his breath.
Placing my hand on his chest, I lean up and press my lips against his.
Apollo inhales sharply before lacing his hands in my hair.
Gods, he felt so good.
Our lips crashed against each other.
Swinging my leg over his midsection, I press myself against him.
A soft moan falls from his lips.
“Pandy,” he whispers. “Styx you feel amazing.”
Grinding my hips against him, I rub my core against his.
My chiton tunic pools around my hips and Apollo are gripping my bum. Pulling me back and forth against him.
I need there to be less barriers between us.
Less clothes.
Less space.
Pulling at his toga, I loosen his straps, making to slip it off him.
But with our bodies pressed so close, it remains hung up between us.
Apollo pulls at my clothes, trying to accomplish the same.
Neither of us are willing to pull away. Not even for a second.
In a flash, the smell of bonfire smoke rolls across the room. Burning away our clothes, Apollo picks me up and presses me against a wall.
“Hey! That was my favorite dress,” I moan into him as he grips my nipple. His other hand is playing with my core.
Not really but he doesn’t need to know that.
“I”ll buy you a thousand new ones. Better than the last,” he replies.
Bucking my hips, I moan. No longer caring about the ashes that were once our clothes.
Wrapping my hand around him, I bit his lip.
Gods, he is so thick.
My entire hand can’t quite fully wrap entirely around him.
Sliding my grip back and forth, I wonder if he’s going to split me in half.
“Apollo,” I whisper against his mouth. “I need you inside of me.”
He groans as I pick up my speed.
Suddenly we were on the move.
The cool panes of the window are pressed flush against my body from my bum to my head.
Plopping my bum onto the cool ledge, I wince from the chill.
“Patience my sunflower,” his kisses trail down my body. Between the valley of my chest, past my navel, and hovering around my core. “We aren’t in a rush. Enjoy yourself.
I want to retort. Begging for us to quicken our pace. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold myself together without becoming undone.
Kneeling between my legs, Apollo tosses my lower limb over his tone shoulders.
His hot breath teases my core. My fingers weave themselves deep into his golden curls. His tongue was almost painfully slow. Treading against me like a ghost.
My hips press closer into him as his hands grab tightly around my ass.
“Is this how you reward everyone who saves you?” I ask as I buck my hips against his lips which are tracing, sucking, and dragging me into a blissful Elysium.
Arching my back, I roll my body against him. Craving to be as close as humanly possible.
A finger traces my entrance. Begging to be let in.
“You”re the first to save me,” he whispers as he rolls his tongue against me.
Even as he speaks his mouth does leave me.
My cheeks flush. Feeling like fire even against the freezing window.
His finger presses lazily inside me, and my hands fly to my mouth. Trapping the shout that almost was sprung from my lips.
“Don’t you dare rob me of your moans.” His gold eyes lock with my violet ones. “I earned every last one.”
I whimper, “But someone could hear us.”
“Good,” he picks up his pace. “Let them hear.”
My hands rest at his shoulders.
Apollo adds another finger. His tongue continues to eat away at my core.
My nails dig into him hard.
Gods.
I’m close.
So close.
“Apollo,” I half moan, half shout.
My toes curl as he picks up his pace and adds a third finger.
This man will be my undoing.
My face furrows as I feel myself crumble against him.
In a swift motion, he lifts my body up. Cradling me against the window he lines himself up. His member tracing my core.
I think I might explode from needing him so badly.
In a swift push, I feel him press inside of me.
I felt so full.
Our lips meet once more.
And I’m not sure who is panting harder, Apollo or me.
Wrapping my arms tightly around him, I wiggle my core against him.
Apollo groans.
“Careful my little sunflower.” His voice is dark and heavy. Full of a dangerous need. “I need you to behave. Give yourself time to adjust to me.”
My lips quirk into a giddy smile.
This was all to help me. Make sure that I wasn’t hurt by him or in active pain. “Behaving is in my character,” I giggle against him as I flex and squirm.
Apollo holds me up with one arm as his forearm is pinned above my head. Furrowing his brow, he moves slowly at first.
With great emphasis on restraining himself. His orbs are watching me for any signs of distress.
But he has none from me. Gods, I need him to pick up the pace.
“I want you to fuck me harder,” I whimper. “Don’t hold back.”
I’m not going to risk hurting you,” he growls.
“You won’t,” I plead. “I promise to tell you if anything is uncomfortable.”
He watches me with a skeptical eye before picking up his pace. Pressing into me over and over again.
His hand from above us snakes its way back down our bodies. His nails drag down my breasts, chest, stomach and down to my core. His finger finding that oh so sensitive bundle of nerves.
My body tenses against him, my core tightening around him. “Apollo,” I hiss.
I feel my body overcome with a feeling of euphoria. Clawing at him to come closer.
Apollo feels close.
His body is so hard.
His cock is rock hard as he buries it into me.
“Apollo,” I whisper against his lips. Let our hips fall inline. Creating our own rhythm against each other.
He groans in response.
His pace quickens as I feel him spill into me.
“You are absolutely perfect,” Apollo whispers against my temple. “And you’re all mine.”
“Yours.”